Movieguide special Two Oscar-winning Emmas, Stone and Thompson, talk Cruella
How did Cruella De Vil become so evil? Emma Thompson and Emma Stone, stars of the new live action origins film, Cruella, talk to Aoife O’regan about the making of a monster
‘If she doesn’t scare you, no evil thing will.’ is was how Disney introduced one of its most enduring villains, Cruella De Vil, in the 1961 classic 101 Dalmatians. at was an animated adaptation of the children’s book by Dodie Smith. Ever since, Cruella has been a pop culture icon, so it’s no surprise that Disney have put Cruella at centre-stage in a new live-action prequel exploring her backstory and how her wickedness developed.
Emma Stone sports the monochrome wig and grey pallor in this version. Glenn Close is on board as executive producer. Set in 1970s London, when glam rock and punk were shaking up the music and fashion scenes, scrappy young orphan Estella is a pick-pocket who dreams of becoming a fashion designer. She scores a break by landing a job at the legendary Baroness von Hellman’s fashion house. Estella’s alter-ego, Cruella, is born as the two develop an intense rivalry.
Emma ompson plays the mean-spirited Baroness, and enjoyed embracing her dark side for a change; “Oh, well, you know, I drew on real life, obviously.” she laughs, “I think if my husband were in the room he’d say, ‘And no acting required, really.’” Speaking on Zoom along with her co-star Stone, and dressed in vibrant red for the occasion, ompson says the complexity of the character was what attracted her: ‘I spent decades playing what my mother used to call ‘good women in frocks’ and now I got to play a really evil woman in frocks. But oh, boy, the frocks! I mean, they wore me, actually. Every time Em and I would come on set, we’d just look at each other like we were sculptures or works of art or something.”
e lm is truly a visual feast, with fashion playing a major part. Costume designer Jenny Beavan, whose work on A Room With a View bagged her an Oscar, has worked with Emma ompson before, on Sense and Sensibility, Howards End and Remains of the Day. Jenny conjured up Cruella’s goth-chic look. She ipped through vintage copies of Vogue, taking inspiration from renowned couturiers like Galliano, Dior, Westwood and Mcqueen, but gave their style a distinctly Cruellian spin – think Morticia Addams attending the MET Ball in Gotham City. Each of her pieces is more ostentatious than the last, and both Emmas adored wearing them; “My very favourite out t was this absolutely ludicrous dress that I wear, made of garbage,” says Stone, speaking about a memorable scene in which Cruella upstages the Baroness on the red carpet with a Banksy-esque stunt. “It had a 40-foot train that wasn’t attached to it, because obviously I wouldn’t be able to move anywhere, so it was added at the last minute.” e scene was shot at around 3:00am in central London so they didn’t attract too many puzzled onlookers. “ere’s also an insane skirt that I wear. I walk up onto a car and then cover the entire thing with a twitch of the skirt. at was epic!” she beams, dressed much more practically today, with her long hair in loose curls.
Stunning as they were, the outlandish costumes presented some practical challenges for the actors on set. “Peeing was hard, and involved a team of people,” chuckles Stone. “Also, the shoes were a real challenge, because I don’t wear anything higher than a ip- op in real life!”. ompson nods; “I had wigs as well, so I was a great deal taller than I’m used to being. I used to have to move in and out of spaces sideways. e underwear was a big ordeal too, not for La Stone obviously, because she’s slender as a lily and didn’t need to wear a corset like a frigging whalebone!”. In De Vil’s own words; ‘You’ve won the battle, but I’m about to win the wardrobe.’
Of course, cute pups a-plenty also feature, along with a stomping soundtrack and lots of fun references to the original book and lm, but there is substance as well as style here. Both actors bring humanity and relatability to their characters despite their despicable actions.
“e Baroness is hardened,” says ompson, “and she believes in the hardness. She thinks that’s the only way, and that’s what is so unusual about her. I am very interested in the dark side of a female character, because they’re so rarely allowed to be dark. We’re all supposed to be nice and good, aren’t we?”. Stone agrees, adding, “ere is something about Cruella that’s enticing, because she just is who she is. I don’t think I would be able to play a character if I truly thought they were just a villain. I have to get their perspective and motivation too.”